Women’s Asia Cup 2026: Jemimah Rodrigues Ruled Out With Hamstring Injury, Pratika Rawal Added to India Squad
India have suffered a major setback ahead of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, with star batter Jemimah Rodrigues ruled out of both the Asia Cup and the upcoming Asian Games due to a serious hamstring injury. The 25-year-old sustained the injury while playing in England’s The Hundred tournament earlier this month.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Friday that Jemimah’s medical assessment revealed a high-grade tear in her right hamstring. Pratika Rawal has been brought into the Indian squad as her replacement.
The Women’s Asia Cup 2026 will be played in Dubai from August 28 to September 5. India will begin their campaign on August 30 against Thailand.
Jemimah Rodrigues Suffers Serious Hamstring Injury
Jemimah Rodrigues picked up the injury on August 3 while playing a match in The Hundred in England. The injury affected her right hamstring and forced her to undergo further medical assessment.
Following the initial injury, Jemimah was examined by the medical team at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The assessment confirmed a high-grade hamstring tear, ruling her out of India’s upcoming Asia Cup campaign.
Her absence will be a significant blow for the Indian women’s team, as Jemimah has been an important part of the batting unit. India will now rely on Pratika Rawal to fill the vacant spot in the squad.
Pratika Rawal Gets Opportunity in India Squad
With Jemimah unavailable, the selectors have included Pratika Rawal in the team for the Women’s Asia Cup 2026. Her inclusion gives India another batting option ahead of an important tournament.
India will be hoping that the squad can maintain its balance despite the absence of Jemimah. The tournament will also provide the team with an opportunity to prepare for the challenges ahead in the international season.
India’s Women’s Asia Cup 2026 Match Schedule
India are scheduled to play three league matches in the tournament. Their first match will be against Thailand on August 30.
| Date | Opponent | Time |
|---|---|---|
| August 30 | Thailand | 6:30 PM |
| September 3 | Hong Kong-China | 6:30 PM |
| September 5 | Pakistan | 6:30 PM |
India’s final league-stage match will be against Pakistan on September 5. The team will look to make a strong start against Thailand before facing Hong Kong-China and Pakistan.
Jemimah Will Also Miss Asian Games
Jemimah Rodrigues’ injury means she will not only miss the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, but will also be unavailable for the Asian Games.
The Asian Games are scheduled to take place in Nagoya, Japan, from September 17 to October 3. Women’s cricket at the Games will be played in the T20 format.
Her absence from both competitions is a setback for India, particularly with the Asian Games following shortly after the Asia Cup. The Indian team will therefore have to manage the tournament schedule without one of its key batters.
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India Squad for Women’s Asia Cup 2026
India’s squad for the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 includes captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana. The team features a mix of experienced players and younger options.
The squad is
Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain), Shafali Verma, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper), G. Kamalini (Wicketkeeper), Arundhati Reddy, Prema Rawat, Radha Yadav, Shree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Nandini Sharma, Kranti Goud and Pratika Rawal.
With Jemimah Rodrigues ruled out because of her hamstring injury, all eyes will now be on how India adjust their batting combination for the Women’s Asia Cup 2026. The tournament begins on August 28 in Dubai, while India’s campaign gets underway on August 30 against Thailand.
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